Cupisnique

A style of pottery of the north coast of Peru during the Early Horizon, and a local variant of Chavín culture. It is most often associated with graves and is characteristically a polished gray-black ware with globular bodies, stirrup spouts, and relief decoration. Early Cupisnique tends to be strongly modeled by plastic manipulation of the surface. In later phases, red and black banding, separated by incision and life modeling, especially stylized felines, appear. The style dates from 900-200 BC and gave rise to three other styles: Salinar, Gallinazo, and Vicus.

Centred on the Chicama Valley in north coast Peru, Cupisnique is characterized by ChaviN-like pottery, so much so that it is sometimes referred to as Coastal Chavin. Most often associated with graves, pottery is typically a polished grey-black ware and stirrup-spout vessels are a common form. There is, however, considerable variety in both technique and form. Early Cupisnique tends to be strongly modelled by plastic manipulation of the surface. In later phases red and black banding, separated by incision and life modelling, especially stylized felines, appear increasingly.